Royal Protocol ....

[Elina]

& curtseying. I know this has been happening for years & years & it's all steeped in history, but it really niggles me in these modern times. Could you see yourself having so much deference? Why should someone bow/curtsey to another human being? http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2631457/So-thats-call-curtsey-car-Autumn-Phillips-kneels-driver-Royal-Range-Rover-making-merry-gorgeous-girls.html?ITO=1490&ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490

[sunny-dave]

Just click your heels, Mikey ... they are German after all :)

[boxtops]

I meant that they are members of the Royal family by birthright.

[ChillDoubt]

Thankfully we still have some traditions and protocols that remain.
Don't forget, even Her Majesty bows her head in respect to a Regimental Colour.

[237SJ]

I think the curtseying is a bit sexist and old fashioned. Julia Gillard never did it, she just bowed. I wouldn`t have a problem with bowing - they do it all the time in Japan. You can`t even get out of a lift without the other occupants bowing. It`s just tradition so it`s the same with Royalty.

[boxtops]

So Elina, would you not bow to a dignitary either, if you were a bloke?

[Peter Pedant]

When we were coraaled to meet Princess Anne,
I think we just shook her hand

[ cue imaginary scenes from Naked Gun 2 1/2 ]

no photies - and it was impressed on me as a potential trubble maker that no one was forced to meet her and if I didnt want to cooperate, there was a nice bog I could lock myself in, until she had gone.

[sunny-dave]

When PA turned up at our place it was politely suggested that I be elsewhere for the day ...

... I think the actual phrase was "Just **** off somewhere else, Dave"

[Elina]

No boxtops.
Naked Gun ... I can see it! ;0)

[atalanta]

A while ago, I went to an awards ceremony at BP ( not as recipient, but as a guest ) and noticed there wasn't a curtsey to be seen. One recipient was a duchess, who must have been a deb in her youth, and she must have been taught to curtsey. I came to the conclusion that the recipients, in the little chat they were given before the ceremony, must have been told not to try to curtsey.
Imagine the embarrassment if a woman falls over in front of the Queen.

[joggerjayne]

I would, yes.

But, in the picture, that's a bit more than a curtsey. I wouldn't get my knee so close to the grass if I was wearing white trousers.

[BlueToffee]

If we got rid of them there would be no need for bowing and scraping!

[joggerjayne]

How to curtsey ...

Put one foot behind the other.
Briefly bend the knees, keeping the upper body straight.

How not to curtsey ...

Take a big step back with one foot.
Bend the knees so far that it looks like you're doing a lunge and working your butt.
Scuff the knee of your white pedal pushers on the grass.

[ChillDoubt]

If we got rid of them there would be no need for bowing and scraping!
----------------------
And the British Tourist industry and London in particular would lose millions overnight.

[aelmpvw]

if i didn't know better i would say that the queen was berating her for wearing white chinos and black shoes

[anneasquith]

id say wee betty was saying '' which one are you '' ?

[Caribeing]

I know it won't happen that I will meet Royalty so curtseying won't apply but aren't we all equal as the bible says all men are equal in the eyes of God so why should we bow down to one another I don't consider anyone better than myself, imagine curtseying to Beatrice, Eugenie etc.

[sandyRoe]

The kowtow showed due deference. A pity it never took on here